Archbishop Chaput Said to be Pope’s “Personal” Choice to Head Philly Archdiocese

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

Pope Benedict XVI’s appointment of Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput to head the embattled Archdiocese of Philadelphia is being seen as a clear sign of what kind of prelates the Pope trusts to lead the Church in America.

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Vatican outraged by Belgian Search and Seizure

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The Vatican is expressing outrage over the raiding of church offices and the opening of two Archbishops’ tombs by Belgian authorities in search of information pertaining to alleged sex abuse scandals in that country.

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Two-Thirds of American Catholics Support Pope

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

In spite of the ongoing sex abuse crisis in the Church, a new poll by Zogby International has found that American Catholics overwhelmingly approve of Pope Benedict XVI, even though the majority believe both he and the U.S. bishops have done a poor job handling the sex abuse crisis.

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Pope Mourns with Victims of Sex Abuse in Malta

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

During what was described as a “very emotional” meeting with eight men who were abused by homosexual priests in Malta, Pope Benedict XVI was said to have had tears in his eyes as he expressed his deep “shame and sorrow” over the behavior of the clerics involved.

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Archbishop Dolan Calls on Catholics to Support the Pope

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

In a week when Catholics are following the suffering Christ through His death and resurrection, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York is calling on Catholics to support the Pope who is enduring a media firestorm over new sex abuse allegations and who is now suffering some of the same unjust accusations, shouts of the mob, and scourging at the pillar, as did Jesus.”

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Vatican Rebuffs Attempts to Link Pope with Scandal

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The Vatican has denounced “aggressive attempts” to link Pope Benedict XVI to sex abuse cases that occurred during his tenure as Archbishop of Munich, saying that all attempts to “personally involve the Holy Father in the question of the abuses” have failed.

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